Aid for knotting ties under tension



.Oct. 10, 1967 MCLEAN GEORGE 3,346,287

AID FOR KNOTTING TIES UNDER TENSION Filed Dec. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mc LEAN GEORGE ATTORNEY Oct. 10,1967 MCLEAN GEORGE 3,345,237

I AID FOR KNOTTINGTIES UNDER TENSION Filed Dec. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 4 McLEAN GEORGE ATTORNEY- United States Patent Cfitice 3,346,287 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 3,346,287 AID FOR KNOT'IING TIES UNDER TENSION l\IcLean George, 2110 Perdido St., New Orleans, La. 70112 F iied Dec. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 511,875 2 Claims. (Cl. 289-17) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device to assist a person in tying a knot in a string to secure a package comprises a single-hinged clamp, the jaws of which are spring loaded to remain normally open. The lower jaw is provided with a tapered edge to facilitate insertion under the first overhand knot and is also provided with a flat upper surface which serves as an anvil. The upper jaw has an elongated extension of sufiicient length to enable the user to apply pressure with his chin to close the jaws and hold the first knot taut, thus freeing both hands to tie the final knot and secure the string.

A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, for all government purposes, throughout the world, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to a device useful as an aid to a single operator performing the task of securing the free ends of ties, at least one of which tie ends is under tension.

More particularly, this invention relates to a device that will provide assistance to a single operator occupied with the task of tying packages with string, for example.

The terms tie and ties are used throughout this specification with the generally expected meaning of cordage (i.e., string and rope), ribbon, tape, and the like. The instant invention encompasses ties generally whatever the material of their manufacture.

A common experience for virtually everyone is that most awkward of moments that besets a lone operator securing a package with string once he has formed and has drawn taut the first overhand knot. The problem, no doubt as ancient as the art of securing ties, is to form and to draw tight the second or looking knot without allowing either of the tie end portions to slacken through the first formed knot. If the intended location for the knot which is to secure the tie ends is a flat and smooth surface, the problem is further aggravated. The time-honored and obvious solution, equally ancient, is a third hand and if others are in the vicinity and are available, the request for succor, hold your finger on the knot, either voiced or otherwise indicated is universally understood and answered. It is the object of the invention to provide for a single operator the mechanical equivalent of the requisite third hand and more particularly an extra and unencumbered finger to aid in the task of securing ties.

The device of this invention, in essence, is a simple, single hinged clamp or jaw apparatus, the single hinged joint being permanently spring-loaded to bias the jaws of the clamp in a normally open position. The jawed apparatus which is the subject of this invention is a singly articulated jaw in the sense that once the device is positioned adjacent the ties being secured, only the uppermost component of the jaw moves.

Closing of the jaws of the device via movement of the upper jaw component is accomplished at will by the operator through an extended member one end of which extended member is integral the top of the uppermost and movable jaw component and the other end of which extended member terminates in a cupped component adapted by reason of its overall contour to accommodate the chin of the operator. The operator of the device which is the subject of this invention can close and can exert an infinitely variable clamping force between the jaw components of the device by simple moving his head.

Although not absolutely essential, the extended member with its attached chin cup is curved to the rear as it extends upward and away from the hinged joint of the jaw so that during use, the ties and the tie restraining jaws of the device are brought forward a short distance in front of the operator, thus affording the operator a good view of the ties being secured.

The bottom and accordingly the inner or pressure face portion of the upper jaw component, which upper jaw component shall hereinafter be referred to as the pressure platen portion of the device, can be of any shape and can exhibit any particular surface that is deemed desirable for the intended use. A smooth platen face would be suflicient in the case of rough cordage or rope, but it will be obvious to those using the apparatus that cords of smooth material (ribbons, plastic ties, and the like) will require knurled or generally rugose surfaces on the pressure platen, the better to secure the ties against slippage. The lower jaw component, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the anvil or anvil portion of the jaw, is preferably flat on the bottom since this base constitutes the support for the apparatus when in use. The upper and contact face of the lower jaw component is preferably rounded and tapered slightly away from the hinged joint so that it (the anvil component) is adapted to occupy a minimum of space and to slide easily beneath the secured ends of the ties once the first overhand knot has been formed and drawn taut.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to the detailed description which follows and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the device;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the device, and is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section of the chin cup taken on line 33 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a section of the jaw components of the device taken on line 44 in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, item 10 is the foot plate which supports the device during operation, and it also constitutes the lower jaw. The upper surface of foot plate 10 is the anvil face 11. Pressure platen 12 constitutes the upper jaw of the device and is an integral part of extended member 14, which extended member and the integral pressure platen move around hinged joint 13. The lower face of the pressure platen 12 is capable of being brought to bear on the anvil face with a positive and infinitely variable pressure by means of extended member 14, the free end of which terminates in a chin cup 16. The chin cup, as shown in FIGURE 1, is secured to the free end of extended member 14.

One convenient method of attaching the chin cup is shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the free end of extended member 14 is split into lateral segments 17 and 18 and the chin cup 16 is attached to each lateral segment by retaining pins 37 and 38 which pins are integral, transversely disposed, terminal members of the lateral segments.

The chin cup can be formed from any suitable material but we prefer, for the comfort of the operator, to use a resilient member or at least a member covered with a resilient material.

In FIGURE 2 are shown details of the hinged joint 13. Thus, the lower extremity of extended member 14 is split to provide forked ends 23 and 23a, which are sufliciently separated to accommodate between them the raised member 40, which is integral with the top of foot plate 10.

Forked ends 23 and 23a, together with raised member 40, constitute the hinged joint 13. The joint is assembled by passing hinge pin 24 through holes (not shown) in each of members 23, 23a, and 40. Pin 24- is of sufiicient length to provide an overhanging portion 24a on which is mountedbiasin'g coil spring 25. The latter has extended ends 25a and 25b which are secured to foot plate 10 and extended member 14 in any suitable manner, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, thereby maintaining the jaws in a normally open position.

The details of securing chin cup 16 are shown in FIG- URE 3, which shows a sectional view segment 17 and a portion of chin cup 16, taken through pin 37, on line 33 of FIGURE 1. As seen from FIGURE 3, segment 17 is provided with integral, transverse pin 37, which serves as a means for mounting and supporting one side of chin cup 16. The structure on segment 18, is identical, as will be apparent from FIGURE 1. Chin cup 16, as we noted earlier, is preferably constructed of a material which exhibits some degree of resilient character.

Operation of the devise which is the subject of this invention is accomplished as follows:

Ties to be secured by manual manipulation are first formed into a preliminary knot and are drawn taut. The base plate 10 of the device, with jaws open, is then slid beneath the preliminary knot, continuous tension being maintained manually upon the ties. This operation is facilitated by providing plate 10 with a tapered edge 41. The jaws of the device are then closed over the preliminary knot to assume the position shown by the broken lines in FIGURE 1, and sufficient force is exerted upon the said preliminary knot by the operator to prevent slipping of the ties. The hands of the operator can now be freed to form and to draw tight any subsequent knots that may be required to secure the ties in a positive fashion.

Having now described the device which is the subject of this invention, I claim:

1. A device for securing ties comprising; (a) a hinged-jaw portion defined by (1) a lowerjaw member, (2) an upper jaw member, (3) hinge means adapted to link said lower and upper jaw members, and (4) resilient means associated with the hinge means adapted to bias the hinged-jaw portion in a jaw-open position; and (b) a lever portion comprising an elongated lever arm mounted atop the upper jaw member and extending away therefrom, the end of the elongated lever arm distal to the upper jaw member terminating in a chin accommodating member. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the opposing faces of the upper and lower jaw members are fiat and the lower jaw member is provided with a tapered edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,849 10/1905 Holly 289l7 1,189,998 7/1916 Perkins 81-428 X 2,595,235 5/1952 Emrich 289-17 X LOUIS K. RIMRODT, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SECURING TIES COMPRISING; (A) A HINGED-JAW PORTION DEFINED BY (1) A LOWER JAW MEMBER, (2) AN UPPER JAW MEMBER, (3) HINGED MEANS ADAPTED TO LINK SAID LOWER AND UPPER JAWS MEMBERS, AND (4) RESILIENT MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HINGE MEANS ADAPTED TO BIAS THE HINGED-JAW PORTION IN A JAW-OPEN POSITION; AND 